Miss Landmine and other "beauty" contests

The always interesting site, Global Voices, had an especially fascinating post about the Miss Landmine contest being canceled in Cambodia. As detailed in a statement in The Mirror, an overview the Khmer language press, The Ministry of Social Affairs Veteran and Youth Rehabilitation does not support the Miss Landmine contest, because it can create misunderstandings among the public towards the honor of disabled people, especially of disabled women. And, while I might not have worded it that way, I definitely agree.

Let me give some background. Many, if not most, of Three Stone Steps products are made in Cambodia. And, most are made by landmine and polio victims. In fact, Three Stone Steps' silk and cotton producer has horribly disfigured hands due to something that happened to her during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. She has never showed the slightest bit of discomfort with her appearance. In fact, why not just let you see her? (She's the one in the gray shirt, and apologies for the bad photo of her):



Now for a very long aside:

Whether I like it or not, Three Stone Steps, which sells bags, wallets, scarves, and jewelry rolls, etc., is part of the "fashion" industry, or at least part of the "fashion accessory" industry. And, as a progressive and "green" business, I often gasp when some of my "eco-fashion" cohorts shoot photos of their organic cotton shirts or bamboo bamboo bags using conventional fashion magazine models and poses. Really, the way I look at it, if you're going to take on conventional clothes and accessories, you may as well take on the conventional way that they're shown.

But, now back to the the Miss Landmine contest. According to an article in The Guardian last year, the pageant was started by a male film and theater director from Norway. (According to the article, Norwegians find beauty pageants very "politically incorrect." And, while I wouldn't use a loaded term like "political correctness," I also find them sexist and dehumanizing.) The pageant organizer thought that juxtaposition of a pageant and landmines was theatrical. He's right. It got attention. It got me to write a blog post on it. But, of course, that doesn't mean it's right. It's just as exploitative as regular beauty pageants, and on top of that, it reinforces Western notions of beauty.

So, in honor of the canceled Miss Landmine Pageant, below are pictures of some of the truly beautiful women who create Three Stone Steps' products:

Except for the final photo, all of these photos are taken in the outskirts of Phnom Penh:

At the sewing machine:



Sewing beads on jewelry roll by hand:
Sewing by hand and by daylight:
Silk dyer, Takeo Province:

Shooting in Outerspace. Booblehead Not Included.

I'm on the seemingly never ending journey of shooting my new products (many of which aren't even here now, but I have samples. And, they should be here soon. Fingers crossed.)

Anyway, most of the photos are just suspended in outer space. You know, white background. A focus on the product. And, the photos end up looking like this:


Actually, these are lovely (and, in stock, although not on the Three Stone Steps site yet). I mean, who wouldn't love a cute jacquard silk cosmetic bag and jewelry pouch set, fairly traded from Vietnam?

But, you know, shooting photos like this doesn't exactly scratch one's creative itch. (Ok. I did use my little light box outside, instead of inside with a lot of lamps. Chalk that up to my concern with my carbon footprint, my desire not to give our dastardly gas & electric company, BGE, one more cent, and wanting to be outside on a gorgeous day. And, that did provide some challenges, although not exactly of the creative kind.)

So, I moved on to shooting my very eco-chic bamboo earrings, which should be here Friday. At this point, I'm pretty much just testing. And, in a moment of incredible inspiration some weeks ago, I decided to name these the Let's Go O's earrings. (And, yes, they will be available in O's orange.) And, what could be better than O's earrings, than pairing them up with Cal Ripken?


I don't really know if a photo like this will make it to the website, but, we'll see. Bobblehead not included.

News from the United Nations

This fits in both the better late than never and the I didn't know that, but I lived quite well without knowing that departments, but as of January 2009, we are in the International Year of Natural Fibers, or Fibres, if you prefer.

And, why does this matter? Well, Three Stone Steps is proud to carry three of the fifteen natural fibers/fibres listed. In the silk category, we carry that great silk Angkor shoulder bag, and fantastic silk scarves, and jewelry rolls. We'll be getting more colors in the shoulder bag along with matching wallets, and great new colors of the silk scarves. And, while we're at it, we're also introducing fabulous new cosmetic bags, jewelry pouches, and great little purses made of silk, and a silk/linen blend from Vietnam.

For cotton, we will be getting in more of the popular silk screen on cotton messenger bag, and a new style bag in the same pattern.

But, what's most exciting about this year is that it's also the year of abaca. I won't spill all the beans now, but be prepared for great new messenger bags, and other great things to carry made of this amazing, sustainable fiber. If you want a sneak peek, courtesy of the UN, check this out. Much, much more soon!

Happy Fair Trade Month

I'm one of those who think fair trade month should be every month, but today is the second day of the official Fair Trade Month.

Three Stone Steps is proud to be a part of the fair trade movement, and can't imagine bring bags, scarves, wallets, and other fashion accessories to you any other way.

In honor of this month, I focus on the workers who make the items that Three Stone Steps has on offer:

This is Mr. Cheak who is working on sewing a beautiful red jewelry roll. The next step on the jewelry roll production is here:



Sophart is working on hand beading the jewelry rolls.

Three Stone Steps will bring you more of these workers throughout the month. And, will continue to support the cause of economic justice for workers always.

I'm still here....

Ah, but dear reader, I have been very busy.

I'm getting ready for my inaugural trade show, for museum store buyers, down in Tampa. I'm super excited to show off Three Stone Steps' new line of bags made of recycled, repurposed mosquito netting, and the new bag made of recycled big plastic garbage bags that are woven around blue yard.

Eco-chic at its greenest best, I tell you!

I'll also be showing off my gorgeous two-toned 100 percent silk scarves, which, by some crazy reserve of will power, I've narrowed down to carrying in only four colors. These are hand made of course, and woven in a traditional way, not often seen in Southeast Asia. I also will have my lovely silk Angkor shoulder bag, in some new colors, as well as new colors of the great little cotton travel bag along with the larger commuter bag, both with the same great traditional, yet non-ethnic hippie Khmer silk-screen pattern. Oh, and silk jewelery rolls, and, if my some magic along with the correct alignment of the planets, maybe, just maybe, I'll even have those brand spanking new striped and beaded cosmetic bags along for the ride. I am waiting, waiting, waiting for the USPS to bring this wonderful package to my little door. Please Mr. Postman, look and see, is there a package, a package for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

While the folks in Tampa will get to see all these goodies in person, never fear, everything will up on the site by later this month.....and, most everything should be available for purchase sometime this summer.

As always, stay tuned....and, updates from the road.

Your own holiday: a post President's Day post

Ahhh, another holiday as come and gone: President's Day. I'm not so sure that I understand it, and I'm not sure if that misunderstanding comes from the fact that it's not a particularly consumerist holiday except, it seems, for cars. Not that I like it, but I'm used to most big holidays in the US as being an excuse to shop, or, at the very least, go out for a good meal. The fact that none of this seems to happen on President's Day confuses me a wee little bit. But, for vehicles, I just need to say enough with the car commercials that play Hail to the Chief in the background already.

But, it's occurred to me, in this holiday rich month of February, that one's own personal holidays mean so much more. I've received some orders lately for silk screen on silk jewelry rolls for bridesmaid gifts. They are really lovely, and not something that I think someone often buys for herself. While I'm running low on my existing colors, I will soon be getting more, great new colors that you're sure to love.

I imagine that for a bride, finding a perfect, affordable, unique, and fairly traded gift is not the easiest thing that one can do. I'm very pleased that Three Stone Steps can help fill that niche for some people embarking on a great personal adventure, who will then create their own personal holidays: their anniversaries, for year and years to come.

Not Quite Playing in Phnom Penh

Despite having a painfully slow internet connection, Three Stone Steps is delighted to inform you of some new items that will be on offer soon. First jewelry rolls. Ok, they are the same fantastic jewelry rolls now offered by Three Stone Steps, but will be offered in new, most fabulous colors. Colors so great that you'll wonder how you lived without them; and colors so great that you'll love using them for your fine bling.

And, speaking of bling, Three Stone Steps is presently debating carrying some really unique and very affordable necklaces. These necklaces are made from buffalo horn (the kind of buffalo they have in Southeast Asia, and YES, the buffalo was already dead for other reasons, and certainly not brought to its demise for its horns. And, NO, I would never, ever, do anything so unethical and cruel as to kill a buffalo so its horn could make a simple necklace, so please don't even think it just in case that horrid thought crossed your mind). They are lovely and casual, and won't quite replace the diamonds you wear to the opera, but can certainly go from work to play without missing a beat. But, we'll see. Even as I write this, I think that buffalo horn bling, as ethical and lovely as it is, may just be too much.

And, speaking even more about jewelry, Three Stone Steps is testing out a great new design for the silk bead necklace. Again, this will take you from work to play to everywhere in between. We're just wondering if this new necklace will work.....but, it's so great in concept that we're hoping it will work in practice.

But, wait, there's more! Somewhere high above the Arctic Circle, she thinks, Three Stone Steps had a brainstorm to create the most lovely and simple and practical raw silk messenger bag. Ok, it'll be sort of on the small side, but there's nothing else like it. She can't wait to turn this theory into practice, especially if it works out.

We're also bringing you a new improved longer strap for the cotton travelers bag, and perhaps a lovely new scarf or two, made from golden silk (which feels like wool), which is beautifully handwoven, and uses all natural dyes.

And, stay tuned for new designs of mosquito netting products and other fashion accessories made from discarded items.

In any event, time in Phnom Penh has been productive, and with hope, soon you'll be able to view these fine new offerings on the website and in stores.

Ok. Off to bed. It's very late in this part of the planet.

Good night.